November 18, 2019. Near Port Barre LA and Bordelonville LA

Dredge the Vermilion (DTV) hosted representatives of the US Army Corps of Engineers on a field visit to the Bayou Courtableau and Bayou Des Glaises Areas.

Near Port Barre LA at Bayou Courtableau Flood Gates
USACE New Orleans District based engineering staff as well as operations management staff from the Old River Control Complex came down for a DTV organized field visit and tour of the Bayou Courtableau drainage gates and weirs and proposed location for a new gate between Bayou Courtableau and Bayou Ami. Additionally, they toured the Grimmett Canal extension area which is part of the Atchafalaya Basin Project Phase 1. Attending were 4 USACE including the Teche-Vermilion Watershed Project Manager, the head Hydrologist from the New Orleans District and both the Operation Manager and the Assistant Operation Manager for the Old River Control structure operations.

Here is a link to a document on the proposed gates between Bayou Courtableau and Bayou Ami.

Bayou Des Glaises Area in Avoyelles Parish
The tour included a trip up to Avoyelles Parish where Jim Landry led a tour of the Bayou des Glaises area and the closed Bordelonville Flood gates. Also attending were 2 of US Rep Higgins staff , 2 council members from St Landry Parish, 1 council member from St. Martin Parish , 1 council member elect from Lafayette parish, the Mayor and Mayor pro-Tempe from Henderson as well as a number of others. Representing DTV were Harold, Brent, and Dave Dixon.
Upcoming USACE Meeting
The USACE is calling a meeting of the 8 parishes in the watershed in St. Martinville at the parish hall to review and discuss these two projects. We understand that CPRA and potentially USGS will be invited.
DTV will assist St. Martin Parish is preparing a presentation regarding the Basin Project Phase 1 the
Henderson Lake Project. The meeting will happen on Dec 16 from 10am-12noon.